B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy and Oriental Art History, University of Hawaii-Manoa; M.A. in Buddhist Studies, Ryukoku University; Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, he is an ordained minister in the Buddhist church, a teacher and exhibitor in the art of calligraphy, and has taught at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley and at the Pacific School of Religion. He has contributed to many articles and books and is the author of The Ethics of Enlightenment, include “Buddhist Thought in the New Millennium: The Structure and Relevance of Buddhist Thinking” in BBukkyōseimeikan kara meta inochi. Takeda Ry sei “Spirituality and Aging in the San Francisco Japanese Community” in Religious Healing in Urban America, “Okinawan Diaspora,” “Buddhist views on Biotechnology” in the Encyclopedia of Ethical, Legal & Policy Issues in Biotechnology, “Buddhist Issues in End-of-Life Decision Making” in Issues in End-of-Life Decision Making, and “Yanagi Soetsu and the Pure Land of Beauty” in Kitabatake Tensei kyōjè koki kinen ronshu. His current research and teaching Interests include Buddhist Aesthetics, Art, and Ethics, Interfaith Aesthetics, Okinawan Studies, and Spirituality and Aging.